Without MPA, Chitral's development at standstill but DRO wants to delay re-polling

ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: The district returning officer (DRO) Chitral seems least bothered about the sufferings of the people living in the snow-clad upper Chitral due to the absence of their representative in the provincial assembly and has recommended to the provincial election commission not to hold re-election in the seven polling stations of PK-90 Chitral-II before April. Highly credible sources in the provincial election commission in Peshawar told ChitralToday that it had sought the opinion of the DRO about holding re-election in seven controversial polling stations of PK-90 Chitral-II on the direction of an election tribunal. The election tribunal passed the directions on a petition of Sarar Hussain, the runner-up of Ghulam Muhammad in the May 11 2013 elections. But the DRO came up with the  romantic suggestion that April would be the most appropriate month to hold the re-polling in the seven polling stations of upper Chitral when flowers would be in full blossom – a thing of beauty is a joy for ever!. The sources said the DRO had plainly conveyed to the provincial election commission that it was impossible to hold the polls as the temperature in the valley was below freezing point. The top district baboos such as the deputy commissioner, district police officer and even judges stationed in the district leave the valley like the Siberian migratory birds in the winter, leaving the people to suffer. The people of the area are facing problems as the constituency has been without any representation after an election tribunal ordered re-election in seven polling stations, suspending the membership of former MPA Ghulam Muhammad. An official of the finance department, requesting not to be named, told ChitralToday that not a single penny out of the 50 million rupees allocated for different development projects in Chitral could be utilized which were received five months back. He said that of the 50 million rupees, 20 million rupees each were for the two provincial assembly constituencies of PK-89 and PK-90 and 10 million for the woman MPA nominated on women’s reserved seats by the PTI.The official said Ghulam Muhammad, MPA from PK-90 Chitral-II, was notified as the chairman of DDAC in June last year but his powers were suspended when the election tribunal accepted an election petition against filed by the runner-up candidate Sardar Hussain of PPP. However, one of the candidates who declined to be named, confided to this correspondent that he had approached the provincial election commission to immediately hold elections but what the fate carries in its wings is a billion dollar question. The people of the area have demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) take strict notice of the proposed delay in holding the election despite passages of so many days as they are suffering due to absence of any public representative in the provincial assembly.]]>